Separator.



H. M. HOEL & E. A. SHEW.

SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1916.

I SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented June 26, 1917.

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H. M. HOEL & E. A. SHEW.

SEPARMOB.

APPLICATION FILED Thu 13, {916.

Patented June 26, 1917.

1SHEETS-SHEET 5- H. M. HOEL & E. A. S HEW.

$EPARATOR. APPUCATION FILED MAY 13, I916.

1,231, 1 58. Patented June 26, 1917.

I SHEETS-SHEET 6- STATES PATEN FFIC HOWARD M. HOEL AND .EGBERT A. SHEW, OF FRAZEE, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO UTILITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF FRAZEE, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'June 26, 191 7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HOWARD M. Horn and EoBnR'r-A. SHEW, citizens of the United States, residing at Frazee, in the county of Becker and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in separators; and, to this end, it consists of the novelty devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a right side elevation of the improved machine, some parts being illustrated by means of broken lines and some parts being shown in difierent positions by means of broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same,

some parts being broken away;

Fig. 4c is a rear end elevation of the machine, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line X X of Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is a detail view in section, taken on the line X X of Fig. l on an enlarged scale, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view .of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 6, on

an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 1sv a detail view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, takensome parts sectioned on the line X X of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Flg. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the separating aprons and supports therefor, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the parts shown in Flg. 13, on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 16 is a detail view in section taken on the line X X of Fig. 15, on an enlarged scale.

The parts of the machine are supported either directly or indirectly from a frame work 1 made up of vertical and horizontal timbers, rigidly bolted together and braced by cross rods 2 at the front and rear of the machine. Mounted within the frame 1 is a plurality, as shown five, inclined sorting or separating aprons 3 located one directly above the other.

Each apron 3 runs over an upper or driven roller 1 and a lower or idle roller 5. The driven rollers 4 are as shown of tubular form and have rigidlv secured in their open ends a pair of. bearing heads 6 with axially alined seats in which a shaft 7 is mounted. Any suitable means, such as set screws, may be provided for securing the bearing heads 6 to the shafts 7 for rotation therewith. The ends of the shafts 7 are journaled in divided bearings 8., the fixed members of which are rigidly bolted to the rear uprights of the frame 1. The two members of each bearing 8 are connected by hinge joints 9 and thumb nut equipped bolts 10. Obviously, by separating the members of the bearings 8 to release the shafts 7, the rollers 4 may be independently removed from the frame 1 or applied thereto.

The idle rollers 5 are preferably of the same construction as the driven rollers 4 and their shafts 11 are journaled in boxes 12, slidably mounted in yoke-like brackets 13 for radial movement toward and from the driven rollers 4. These bearing brackets 13 are rigidly bolted to the front uprights of the frame 1.

To prevent materials on aprons 3 from being discharged transversely therefrom, the longitudinal edges of said apron are raised preferably by folding said edge portions of the apron upon themselves to form threeply thicknesses on the outer face of the ends.

Each apron 3 is placed longitudinally undcr the desired tension by long adjusting screws 14-, having screw threaded engagement with the transverse portions of the bearing brackets 13 and with their inner ends impinging against the sliding boxes 12. Obviously, by adjusting the screws 1-1, the idle rollers 5 may be moved radially toward or from the driven rollers 41.

Extending between each pair of rollers 4 and 5 is a pair of laterally spaced guide rails 15, located so that the thickened longitudinal edge portions of the respective apron 3, travels on the upper and lower edges thereof. These guide rails 15 are rigidly secured to the frame 1 by brackets 16. The brackets 16, at the front of the machine, are integrally formed with the bearing brackets 13, and the ones at the rear of the machine are rigidly bolted to the uprights of the frame 1. Each guide rail 15 is vertically embraced by a U-shaped spacing bar 17. The intermediate portions of these spacing bars 17 extend around the rollers t and their free end portions extend over and below the rollers 5 (see Fig. 1.) The spacing bars 17 are preferably made from angle bars with their horizontal flanges turned outward and their vertical flanges turned downward and spaced apart from the guide rails 15, a distance suflicient to permit the thickened longitudinal end portions of the aprons 3 to travel the-rebetween.

To hold the aprons 3 transversely under the desired tension, spacing blocks or lugs 18 are riveted to the thickened longitudinal edge portions of the apron 3 under the hori- Zontal flanges of 'the spacing bars 17. The inner ends of the blocks 18 have sliding engagement with the outer faces of the vertical flanges of the spacing bars 17. (See Figs. 14 and 16). The spacing bars 17 are adjustably secured to the brackets 16 for lateral adjustments transversely of the apron 3 by set screws 19 passed through slots 20, formed in the bracket 16, and having screw threaded engagement with the horizontal flanges of the spacing bars 17 (see Figs. 13 and 15). Lateral adjustment is imparted to the spacing bars 17 by slow motion screws .21, having screw threaded engagei'nent with the bracket 16 and with their ends impinging against the vertical flanges of said spacing bars. Obviously, the desired transverse tension may be placed upon the apron 3 by loosening the set screws19 and manipulating the adjusting screws 21, which act upon the blocks 18 through the spacing bars 17.

To further support the upper run of each apron 3 against sag, a plurality of radially spaced tubular rollers 22 are extended transversely of the aprons 3 with their ends loosely mounted in seats 23. These seats 23 are formed by notching the guide rails 15 at their upper inner edge portions (see Fig.

14). These seats 23 support the roller 22 with their upper surfaces flush with the upper edges of the guide rails 15 on which the upper runs of the aprons3 travel. The aprons 3 travel in the direction-of .the arrows marked on Fig. 1 and the horizontal flanges of the upper members of the spacing bars 17 at their ends are curved upward to prevent the blocks 18 from striking thereagainst as they enter between said horizontal flanges in the guide rails 15. (See Fig. 1).

The following connections are provided for driving the upper rollers 4 and, hence, the separating or sorting aprons 3. The driving belt, not shown, runs over a large pulley 24, keyed to a horizontal shaft 25, journaled in a bearing bracket 26, rigidly bolted to one of the rear uprights of the frame 1. Also keyed to this shaft 25 is a spur pinion 27, which meshes with a spur gear 28, keyed to the shaft 7 of the lower most roller 41. This shaft 7 is extended at the end to which the spur gear 28 is keyed and journaled in the bearing bracket 26.

The rollers 41 are simultaneously driven from the shaft 25, through the pinion 27 and gear 28, by miter gears 29 on their shafts 7 which mesh with bevel gears 30, keyed to an upright shaft 31, journaled in bearings 32 on the frame 1.

In separating various different kinds of material, it is desirable to change the inclination of the upwardly moving surfaces of the separating aprons 3 and, as an extremely simple means of accomplishing this result, we tilt the main frame 1 bodily by means of a pair of screws 33. These screws have screw threaded engagement with nut blocks 34:, secured to the lower horizontal members of the main frame 1 at their rear ends. The lower ends of the screws engage the support on which the frame 1 rests as a base of resistance. The upper ends of the screws 33 are bent to form cranks .35 by which said screws may be turned. (See Figs. 1 and fl).

Materials to be separated are spread transversely over the upwardly inclined moving surfaces of the several aprons 3 by a plurality of main troughs 36, One of'these main troughs 36 is supported transversely over each apron 3, slightly inclined in re- 'spect to its receivin end, from an upright rectangular frame 37, which extends transversely of the frame 1 and completely embraces all of the aprons 3. (See Fig. 5). The frame 37-is suspended from the main frame 1 for vibratory movement transversely of the machine by a U-shaped link 38 and a pair of straight links 3-9. The transverse portion of the link 38 is pivotally mounted in a bearing 40, secured to the right hand upright member of the frame 37 substantially at the vertical center thereof, with its prongs extending one on each side of the frame 37 and pivotally secured to the overhead portion of the frame 1 by eye-bolts 41. The links 39 are suspended from the top of the frame 1, at the left side thereof, by eyebolts 42. These links 39 extend one on each side of the. frame 37 and their lower ends are pivoted thereto by a bolt 43, passed through any one of a plurality of vertically spaced holes 44 in the left hand upright of the frame 37, close to the lower end thereof. Obviously, by placing the bolt 43 in the different holes 44, the inclination of the main troughs 36 may be changed at will.

The vibratory frame 37 is located at the center of the machine and its lower portion is held against lateral swinging movement by upright straps 55, rigidly secured at their upper ends, to the lowermost guide rail 15, at the right side of the machine, and their lower ends are rigidly secured to the underlying portion of the frame 1. As shown,

there are three of these guide straps 45, edgewise spaced so that any two thereof may receive the frame 37 therebetween, (see Fig. 1). By shifting the frame 37 between any two of the guide straps 45 and changing the eye-bolts 41 and 42 in the frame 1, the frame 37 may be secured in different adjustments with respect to the direction of travel of the aprons 3; by means of broken lines in frame 1, the frame 37 is shown adjusted. toward the front of the machine.

The upright member of the frame 37 at the right hand side of the machine is in the form of a leg 46 through which materials to be separated are delivered to the several main troughs 36. A flexible spout 47 leading from a hopper, storage bin or other source of supply, not shown, for the materials to be separated is secured to the upper end of the leg 46.

Materials in the leg 46 to be separated are delivered to the main troughs 36 through ports 48, formed in said leg. At the receiving ends of the main troughs 36, the side flanges thereof abut against the leg 46 while the bottoms thereof extend into said leg through the respective ports 48 to form shelves or ledges on each of which a portion of the materials to be separated lodges in falling through the leg 46. On the bottom of each main trough 36 within the leg 46 is a block 49 which holds the respective trough- 36 against endwise separation from the leg 36. The delivery ends of the main troughs 36 are rigidly secured to extensions 50 se- These gates 51 are held in different adjustments by thumb nut equipment stubs 5i", anchored to the leg 46 and extending through slots 53 in said gates.

Extending longitudinally through each main trough 36 is a plurality of upright parallel partitions which divide the main trough into a plurality (as shown four) of relatively narrow troughs 54. By reference to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the troughs 54 terminate short of the main troughs 36. both at their resceiving and delivery ends.

1n the bottom of each trough 54, is a discharge port 55 through which the materials to be separated are discharged onto the aprons 3 under the vibratory movement of the frame 37. The discharge ports of each group of troughs 54 are spaced trans-- versely of the aprons 3 (as best shown in Figs. 5 and 7), in order to discharge the materials to be separated, at different points onto the said aprons. To more evenly distribute the materials to be separated, over the aprons 3, is placed under each port a deflector 56, having directly under the center of the respective port 55 a relatively small port 57. On opposite sides of each port 57, the respective deflector 56 is formed with oppositely inclined surfaces 58. Part of the material precipitated through the ports will fall directly through the ports 57 onto the aprons 3 and the remainder thereof will vices supported thereon by the following connections. Normally the frame 37 is yieldingly held in one of its'extreme positions by a pair of coiled springs 59, anchored at one of their ends to the top and bottom horizontal members of the frame 1 at the right side thereof. and their other ends are anchored to the intermediate portions of the top and bottom members of the frame 37. An upright oscillatory shaft 60 is journaled in bearings 61 on the frame 1. Upper and lower arms 62 and an intermediate arm 63 are secured to the shaft 60 in bell crank arrangement (see Fig. 6). A variable throw crank 64 is provided for oscillating the shaft 60from the driven shaft 25. As shown, this crank 64 comprises a sleeve-like member 65, having axial sliding movement on the inner end of the shaft '25, and a crank pin 66 adapted to be secured within any one of a plurality of eccentrically located holes 67 in the outer ends of the member 65. The crank 64 may be secured tothe shaft 25, at will, for rotation therewith by a pair of coilperating clutch elements 68 and 69. The clutch element 68, as shown, is in the form of a pin extended radially through the shaft 25 and the clutch element 69 is in the form of diametrically opposite notches formed in the inner end portion of the crank member 65. A pitman 70 connects the crank pin 66 to the free end of the arm 63 and longitudinally adjustable links 71 connect the free ends of the arms 62 to the prongs of bifurcated lugs 72. These lugs 72 are secured to the intermediate portions of the top and bot tom members of the frame 37. The pins which connect the links 71 to the lugs 72 also afford means for connecting the springs 59 to the frame 37, (see Fig. 5).

The crank 64 is rendered operative and inoperative, at will, by an operating rod 73, having at its inner end an eye 71 through which the pitman 70 projects. Spacing collars 75 hold the operating rod 73 against radial movement on the pitman 70. In the outer end of the operating rod 73, is formed a hand hold 76 and, in the lower edge thereof, is a pair of longitudinally spaced notches 77 adapted to interlock with a lock plate 7 8 on the frame 1 for holding the movable member of the clutch 6869 in either an engaged or disengaged position. From the above description, it is evident that the vibratory movement of the distributing devices may be started and stopped, at will, by means of the operating rod 73, while the operating connections for the aprons 3 con tinuously run.

WVhile our present invention is adapted for use in the separating and sorting of various articles and materials, such as beans, peas, clover seed, alfalfa, rye from vetch, mustard fro-m flax, it will hereinafter be described, for the sake of convenience, as a bean sorting machine.

' Good beans delivered onto the upwardly moving inclined surfaces of the separating aprons 3, owing to their shape and smoothness, will roll downward on said aprons and over the rollers 5 into a hopper 79 at the front of the machine. All bad beans have shriveled surfaces, hence will not roll; and, together with all broken beans, will be carried upward on the aprons 3 and delivered over to the rollers 1 into a hopper S0 at the rear of the machine. Each hopper 79 and 80 is provided with a gate equipped discharge opening 81. The hopper 79 opens into the lower end of an elevator leg 82 through its gate equipped opening 81. The beans in the hopper 79 are carried upward through the elevator leg 82 by an endless conveyer 83 to a gate equipped discharge spout Set, having at its delivery end a bag holder 85, for holding a bag (not shown) to receive the good beans. The conveyer 83 runs over upper and lower rollers or wheels 86, journaled in bearings 87 on the sides of the leg 82. The shaft of the upper roller 86 is extended the full width of the machine and journaled in bearing brackets 88, secured to the front uprights of the frame 1. These bearings brackets 83 together with a brace 89, support the upper end of the leg 82 in an outwardly inclined position.

In Fig. 1, the elevator is shown shifted to the rear of the machine to receive from the hopper 80 and is illustrated by means of broken lines. The elevator 83 is driven from one of the shafts 7, when at the front of the machine, by a long belt 90 which runs over a relatively large pulley 91. on one of the shafts 7 at the left side of the machine and over a relatively small pulley 92 on the shaft of the upper wheel 86. hen, at the rear of the machine, the elevator 83 is driven by a cross belt 93. In some instances, it might be desirable to have an elevator at each end of the machine, in which case a second pulley 94 is provided and secured to the same shaft 7, as the pulley 91. (See Fig.

Good beans, discharged from the aprons 3, are directed into the hopper 79 by a pliable curtain 95, secured to a rectangular frame 96 by separable fasteners 97. The frame 97 is secured to the main frame 1 and holds the curtain 95, spaced outward from the rollers 5 to afford a passageway for the good beans, through which they fall from the aprons 3 into the hopper 79. By making the curtain 95 pliable, the beans, when striking the same, do not bounce.

lVhen the frame 37 of the distributing device is shifted from its full to broken line position (see Fig. 1) it is necessary to change the vertical position thereof in order to keep the troughs 36 and distributing devices carried thereby out of contact with the inclined aprons 3. This vertical adjustment of the frame 37 may be accomplished by securing the link 38 in a different position on the bracket 10 and changing the connection of the links 39 in the holes 14.

hat we claim is:

1. A separator of the kind described, including a separating apron, and a distributing device working transversely over said apron and adapted to be adjusted laterally in respect to the direction of the movement of said apron.

2. A separator of the kind described, including a separating apron, a distributing device Working transversely over said apron, and guides for holding the distributing device in different lateral adjustments in respect to the direction of the movement of said apron.

3. A separator of the kind described, in-

cluding a separating apron, a plurality of to discharge onto the separating apron transversely thereof.

4:. A separator of the kind described, including a separating apron, a plurality of distributing troughs working transversely over said apron and each having a discharge port, said discharge ports being located, one in advance of the other, and a deflector located under each of said ports and having oppositely inclined discharge surfaces which extend transversely of the apron.

5. A separator of the kind described, including a separating apron, a distributing trough working over said apron, and having longitudinally spaced discharge ports, and a deflector located under each of said ports and having a relatively small discharge port located under the respective discharge port in said distributing trough.

6. A separator of the kind described, including a. separating apron, a distributing trough working over said apron, and having longitudinally spaced discharge ports, and a deflector located under each of said ports, having oppositely inclined discharge surfaces and a relatively small discharge port located between said discharge surfaces and under the respective discharge port in said distributing trough.

7. A sorting machine of the kind described, including a separating apron, a vibratory frame through which said apron moves, a distributing device carried by said frame and working over said apron, links supporting said frame for vibratory movement, and means for vibrating said frame.

8. A sorting machine of the kind described, including a separating apron, a vibratory frame through which said apron moves, a distributing device carried by said frame and working over said apron, links supporting said frame for vibratory movement, means for vibrating said frame, and a spring yieldingly holding said frame in one of its extreme positions.

9. A sorting machine of the kind described, including a separating apron, a plurality of distributing troughs working over said apron, a discharge port in the bottom of each of said troughs, said discharge ports being longitudinally spaced in respect to said trough, and a deflector under each of said discharge ports.

10. A sorting machine of the kind described, including a separating apron, a distributing device working over said apron, and means for imparting variable reciproeating movement to the distributing device transversely over the apron.

11. A sorting machine of the kind described, including a separating apron, drivmg connections for operating said apron, a distributing device working over said apron, and means for imparting variable reciprocating movement to the distributing device.

12. In a sorting machine of the kind described, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of rollers journaled on said frame, an endless separating apron arranged to run over the said rollers, means for driving said apron, guide rails between the longitudinal edge portions of the upper and lower runs of said apron, spacing bars located above said guide rails, and blocks secured to the marginal edge portions of said apron outward of the spacing bars and having sliding engagement therewith.

13. In a sorting machine of the kind described, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of rollers journaled on said main frame, an endless separating apron arranged to run over said rollers, means for driving said apron, guide rails between the longitudinal edge portions of the upper and lower runs of said apron, spacing'bars located above and below said guide rails, and blocks secured to the marginal edge portions of the separating apron outward of the spacing bars, and having sliding engagement therewith.

14. In a sorting machine of the kind described, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of rollers journaled on said frame, an endless separating apron arranged to run over the said rollers, means for driving said apron, guide rails between the longitudinal edge portions of the upper and lower runs of said apron, spacing bars located above said guide rails, one of said spacing bars be ing laterally adjustable, and blocks secured to the marginal edge portions of said apron outward of the spacing bars and having sliding engagement therewith.

15. In a sorting machine of the kind described, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of rollers journaled on said main frame, an endless separating apron arranged to run over said roller, means for driving said apron, guide rails between the longitudinal edge portions of the upper and lower runs of said apron, yoke-like spacing bars embracing said guide rails and spaced apart from the upper and lower edges thereof, and blocks secured to the marginal edge portions of the separating apron outward of the spacing bars and having sliding engagement therewith.

16. In a sorting machine of the kind described, the combination with a main frame, of a pair of rollers journaled on the said main frame, an endless separating apron arranged to run over said rollers, means for driving said apron, guide rails between the longitudinal edge portions of the upper and lower runs of said apron, angle spacing bars located above said guide rails and having their horizontal flanges turned outward and their vertical flanges turned downward, and blocks secured to the marginal edge portions of the separating apron and having sliding engagementwith the outer faces of the vertical flanges of said spacing bars.

17. A sorting machine of' the kind de scribed, the combination with a main frame, of a pair ofrollers journaled on the said main frame, an endless separating apron arranged to run over said rollers, means for driving said apron, guide rails between the longitudinal edge portions of the upper and lower runs of said apron, yoke-like spacing bars embracingsaid:guide rails and spaced apart from the upper and lower edges thereof, said spacing bars being angle shaped in cross section with their horizontal flanges turned outwardand their vertical flanges turned downward, and blocks secured to the marginaledge portions of the separating apron and having sliding engagement with the'outer faces of the vertical flanges of said spacing bars;

18. In a sorting machine of'the kind described, the combination with a main frame,

of a pair of rollers journaled on said main frame, an endless separating belt arranged to run over said rollers and having its longitudinal edge portions thickened to afford on the outer face of the apron raised surfaces, guide rails between the longitudinally raised surfaces of the upper and lower runs of said aprons, spacing bars located above said guide rails and outward of the inner longitudinal edges of the raised surfaces of said belt, and blocks secured to the raised surfaces of said apron outward of the spacing bars'and having sliding engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in'presence of two witnesses.

HOVARD M HOEL. EGBER-T A. SHEW.

Witnesses 7M. EsPENsoN, HERMAN LEI-IMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing. the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

